"Poked fun" is a commonly used phrase to describe joking, teasing or making jabs at someone or something. However, there are plenty of other synonyms that can be used to express the same sentiment. Some alternatives include ribbing, teasing, bantering, jesting, kidding, mocking, taunting, needling, and lampooning. Each of these phrases can be used to describe a playful or humorous exchange between friends, but it's important to remember to be mindful of other people's feelings and not take jokes too far. Either way, if you need to inject some humor into a situation, there are plenty of ways to do it without causing offense.